Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Plant Type: This is a non-native herbaceous plant, it is a short lived perennial or biennial which can reach 66cm in height (26inches). The stem is pubescent.Leaves: The leaves are
alternate. Each leaf is pilose and divided into three gennerally ovate leaflets each with a white 'V'.Flowers:
The flowers are irregular in shape . They are light purple, pinkish. Blooms first appear in late spring and
continue into mid fall. Flowers in tight rounded heads about 2.5cm wide (1") across.Habitat: Fields,
fencerows and gardens.Range: Throughout the U. S.
Color PhotoMore InfoClassification

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This native of Europe, which is now very common in the United
States, gets the name 'clover' from the great club that Hercules carried, known as 'clave trinodis'. It was said to have
been a tree trunk with three large roots. The three leaves of the clover reminded Germanic tribes of this 'clave trinodis'
and so in Danish it became 'klever' and in Anglo Saxon 'claefre' then in English 'claver' which eventually became 'clover'.
The clover shape on the suit of playing cards we call 'clubs' is so called due to this relationship of clover to Hercules' club.

Cultivated as fodder and as a cover crop to be plowed under this clover has spread far and wide. Young, tinder leaves
can be eaten fresh or cooked and the flowers can be brewed for tea. It is also a rich source of nectar for bees. So sweet,
in fact, that it was once called 'honeysuckle' because the flower head could be sucked as a sweet. This was before
refined sugar was available so you may not find it very sweet by modern standards.

Lore: Clover has been
used as a charm and healing herb in Europe since pre-history. It came to America so early on that eastern Native
American tribes developed traditional uses for it before Europeans could effect genocide on them. The Cherokee people
used the tea for fevers, kidney problems and vaginal discharges. In Europe the occasional 'four leaf clover' was thought
a powerful charm and is considered 'lucky' even to this day. While countless healing properties have been attributed to
Clover, most could be explained by the tannin content. In the 1800s it was suggested, apparently by a single Newspaper
article, that an extract had cured cancer.

Medical Uses: A tea from the flower has long been considered an
antispasmodic and mild sedative and has been used for various lung and throat problem such as sore throats, coughs and
asthma. The flowers were once smoked as an asthma treatment. Externally it is used as a salve for burns and sores.
There seems to be no scientific evidence to support medical uses of Clover, but, being edible it probably can't hurt unless
it is used instead of more effective treatments.

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One of the best general guides to wildflowers of the North Eastern and North Central United States. Newcomb's key
is an excellent, simple method for identifying plants. Newcomb has drawings for almost every plant mentioned that
are excellent aids to identifying the species. Though only the more common plants are covered this is often the first
book I pick up when trying to identify a wildflower.
Wildflo
wers of Tennessee the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians
By: Dennis Horn and Tavia Cathcart and Thomas E. Hemmerly and David Duhl. , ISBN:1551054280

This is perhaps the best of many field guides covering this region. Featuring 446 excellent color photographs (located
with the text) and mentioning as similar to those illustrated are another 800 or so species for a total coverage of over
1,200 species. The start of each family section includes line drawings of some of the species showing important
features. The text includes the usual description, bloom season, range, habitat and additionally includes information
such as medical uses and lore and how the species was named. This is the official field guide of the Tennessee
Native Plant Society.